Monks - feats and flurry of blows?

[Tonguez]

First does Flurry of blows (1 additional attack per round) stack with combat reflexes (AoO =dex mod) my Monk has dex 16 (+3)does combat reflexes grant 4 AoO?

Second which of these is the best feat to take

1 Combat Reflexes
2 Dodge
3 Lighnting reflexes (to help evasion)
4 Expertise

 

[CRGreathouse]

Flurry of blows has nothing to do with combat Reflexes. You get the same number of AoO on your opponents' turns, regardless of the number of atytacks you make on your turn. Combat Refelxes increases this number by your Dex bonus.

Dodge is generally the best choice, as it's a pre-req for Spring Attack - great for monks. Combat Reflexes is not too useful without reach, Expertise requires 13+ Int for already-streched-for-ability-score monks, and Lightning Reflexes isn't needed.

 

[Staffan]

Re: Re: Monks - feats and flurry of blows?

Dodge is generally the best choice, as it's a pre-req for Spring Attack - great for monks. Combat Reflexes is not too useful without reach, Expertise requires 13+ Int for already-streched-for-ability-score monks, and Lightning Reflexes isn't needed.

On the other hand, spring attack isn't all that great to begin with. Some people think that it lets you attack a poor non-mobile fighter with impunity since he can't hit back. Uh-uh. The guy just readies an attack and hits you when you get near. I did crunch a few numbers on high-level monk vs. high level fighter, and it worked out that the monk was better off standing toe-to-toe with the fighter than he was doing the hit-and-run thing (due to the loss of his superior multiple attacks). Come to think of it, the best way to take advantage of the monk's speed would probably be to make an archer out of him.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Re: Re: Re: Monks - feats and flurry of blows?

On the other hand, spring attack isn't all that great to begin with.

With all my heart and soul, I disagree with this statement. Spring Attack is one of the most useful feats there is. While it costs you a full attack action to use it, it also prevents your enemy from delivering a full attack on you.

Consider a dragon's attack routine:
bite / claw / claw / wing / wing / tail crush / tail sweep

If you Spring Attack, you can be sure the dragon'll only hit you with one attack, instead of seven. That's a life-saver.

(Yes, I'm aware the dragon has other options, but I used it to illustrate my point regarding single vs. full attacks, and the punishment Spring Attack can help a PC to avoid.)

My PCs love Spring Attack. Sure, the fighter can ready to attack you. But he'll never get more than the one attack, and that can be very, very important.

 

[Piratecat]

Moved to rules!

 

[Henrix]

(Thanks, P-Cat!)

Just to disagree with the others, I'd say that Expertise is very valuable to a monk (and any fighter), if you have the Int for it.
Otherwise, Dodge. A monk needs the AC, and with higher move he'll do good with the Mobility and Spring Attack.

Don't bother with Combat Reflexes unless you're planning to use reach weapons. But, then, a monk with spiked chain (exotic at 3rd) is cool!

 

[Christian]

Alright, my turn. My Monk character isn't first level, he's fourth. And his feats are Alertness, Dodge, and Mobility. (BTW, Mobility isn't just useful as a prereq for Spring Attack-it's really been the most useful feat I have to date. But I digress ...) My next two feats on my list are Expertise (he has a 13 Int-just enough) and Spring Attack, for sixth and ninth level. But I can't decide which to take first! Any suggestions?

 

[Crothian]

Personally, I'm a big fan of Expoertise for any melee combat character. The abnility to up your AC at crucial points in combat is great. One of my favorite tactics is to go head to head with anything and crank the AC as high as I can get it, and let the spellcasters and missile weapon guys take it out.

 

[Tonguez]

Don't bother with Combat Reflexes unless you're planning to use reach weapons. But, then, a monk with spiked chain (exotic at 3rd) is cool!

Actually thisw was my first 'concept - a monk with a spiked chain (or Kusari-gama) but it means waiting a long time to get Exotic Weapon and Weapon Finesse (to use my +3 dex instead of +0 str)

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I don`t think it is a good idea to have a low Strength for a Monk. They STR Modifier can be very important...